Wrench.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Anplication filed February 13,1905. Serial No, 245,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD AXFoRD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful l/Vrench, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a wrench of strong, simple, and inexpensive construction, effective in operation, and easily adjusted to difierent sizes of nuts, bolt-heads, pipes, &c.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a wrench embodying my invention. Fig. 2 rep resents a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of a portion in different position from that shown in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures. 7

Referring to the drawings, A and B designate the jaws of the wrench. Connected with the jaw A, which is the movable jaw, is the shank C, on the terminal of which opposite to said jaw is the yoke D. Connected with the jaw B, which is the stationary jaw, is the stock or shank E, which passes freely through the yoke D and is continued into the handle F, it being noticed that the inner face of the portion of the shank within the yoke D is rounded, as at D, where it contacts with the back of the shank E and forms a fulcrum for said shank in the opening and closing motions of the jaw A. The inner face of the front wall ofsaid yoke D is inclined, as at D so that as the shank C turns by said fulcrum D on the shank E said yoke is permitted to turn with the shank C, while said wall always preserves a point of contact with the front of the shank E. Secured to the shank E rearward of the aw B is the yoke G, in the back of which is fitted the screw H, whose point is adapted to contact with the adjacent portion of the back of the shank C, it being noticed that said shank is adapted to move longitudinally through said yoke, it being also noticed that the yokes project in opposite directions from their places of connection with the respective parts, so that one yoke is on the front of the wrench and the other yoke ison the back thereof, thus distributing the strain on the wrench when in use on opposite points of the same. On the inner face of the shank E is the tooth J, and opposite to the same on the inner-face of the shank C is the ratchet K, said tooth being adapted to engage with either of the members of said ratchet for interlocking the shanks C E and retaining the jaws thereon in adjusted position.

It will be noticed that the yokes D G are of such lengths that the shank C has play in the yoke G to and from the back of the jaw B, and the yoke D is movable longitudinally on the shank E, while it turns with the shank C on said shank E, as above stated. Owing to the turning motion of the shank E the latter may be moved backward to disengage the ratchet K from the tooth J when the shank C may be slidingly moved on the shank E, so as to set the jaw A to or from the jaw B or ad justed relatively to the size of a nut, bolt head, pipe, 850., to be operated, which being accomplished the-shanks are brought together when the tooth J engages with the adjacent shoulder or tooth of the ratchet K, thus interlocking the shanks in longitudinal direction, after which the screw H is tightened,

whereby transverse play of the shanks is prevented, and said shanks are accordingly held in engagement and slipping or shifting of the same, and consequently of the jaws, is prevented, when, as is evident, the wrench may be operated as usual, the jaws taking firm hold of the article to be operated. It will also be seen that in opening the jaws the movable jaw moves a larger extent from the stationary jaw, since the shank of the former turns by its fulcrum D on the shank of the latter, allowing the shank of the movable jaw to have a long sweep. Then owing to the inclined face D which leaves a space between said face and that of the shank E, the latter has its opposite sides in contact with the fulcrum D and a part of the said face D so that a single screw, such as H, is suflicient to lock the shanks, and consequently the aws.

' The jaws B have facing-pieces L of highlyhardened metal, the same possessing great strength and being removably fitted in recesses M in said jaws, so as to be replaced when worn or fractured, the walls of the recesses and the sides of the pieces being of dovetailed form, so as to hold said pieces firmly in position. The tooth J is formed of highly-hardened metal, the same possessing great strength and having its back portion removably fitted in a recess N in the shank E, so as to be replaced when worn or fractured, the wall of said recess and the contiguous side of said portion being of dovetailed form, so as to hold the tooth firmly in position.

In order to clearly distinguish the aws A B, I term the jaw A as the stationary jaw and the jaw B as the movable aw.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction shown without departing from the general spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in each case to the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wrench, a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, shanks for said jaws, yokes connected with respective members, the op 0sing shanks having opposite relative roc ring movements, a single tightening device on one yoke to engage the shank carrying the other yoke to bind the parts within said yokes, and a shank-interlocking device intermediate the bearings of said shanks.

2. In a Wrench, a stationary aw having a shank, a movable aw with a shank, a yoke rigid with each shank, each shank having a rocking fulcrum in the yoke of the other, one of said yokes having inclined walls, means between the yokes for interlocking the shanks,

and means on one yoke between the other yoke and the jaw carried by its shank for engaging said shank to rock the parts on the fulcrum in the other yoke to bind the parts at each yoke and at a point between them.

3. In a wrench, a stationary jaw having a shank, a movable jaw with a shank, a yoke rigid with each shank, each shank having a rocking fulcrum in the yoke of the other, one of said yokes having inclined wall, means between the yokes for interlocking the shanks, and means on one yoke between the other yoke and the jaw carried by its shank for enaging said shank to rock the parts on the lcrum in the other yoke to bind the parts at each yoke and at a point between them, said shank-interlocking means being normally out of engagement.

EDWARD AXFORD. 

